Brighton mosque leader, 53, accused of encouraging extremism in speech tells trial it is Boris Johnson’s turn to cover his face after PM compared Muslim women to ‘letterboxes’
- Abubaker Deghayes is accused of encouraging terrorism in November 2020
- In a speech, he referred to Boris Johnson’s comments about face coverings
- He today told jurors it was Mr Johnson’s turn to cover his face, with a face mask
- Deghayes, of Saltdean in East Sussex, denies a charge of encouraging terrorism
Abubaker Deghayes is accused of encouraging terrorism when he addressed worshippers at the Brighton Mosque and Muslim Community Centre in 2020
An alleged extremist has told jurors it is Boris Johnson’s turn to cover his face, after the Prime Minister compared Muslim women to ‘letterboxes’.
Abubaker Deghayes, 53, is accused of encouraging terrorism when he addressed worshippers at the Brighton Mosque and Muslim Community Centre on Sunday November 1, 2020.
Giving evidence at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, he explained why he had referred to Mr Johnson’s comments about face coverings in his speech to around 50 people, including children.
In a newspaper column in 2018, Mr Johnson had said burkas made Muslim women look like ‘letterboxes’.
Deghayes said: ‘I’m talking about how circumstances are ruled by Allah.
‘Now he (Mr Johnson) is putting a cloth on his face because of circumstances.’
Defence barrister Tom Wainwright said: ‘What cloth was he putting over his face?’
Deghayes replied: ‘The face mask. Not only he is wearing the face mask but places the policy and obligation that everybody wears the mask.’
Judge Nigel Lickley asked: ‘You are talking about a coronavirus mask covering your face?’
Deghayes responded: ‘Yes.’
Deghayes delivered the speech to his congregation at Brighton Mosque, jurors were told
The Old Bailey has previously heard Deghayes was caught on CCTV as he gave a 20-minute speech to a group of around 50 male worshippers at Brighton Mosque and Muslim Community Centre last November.
The congregation included teenagers and young men in their 20s, as well as worshippers in their 30s and 40s, but several began fidgeting as the sermon went on, and others walked out.
Later in his speech at the mosque, Deghayes allegedly said that violent jihad is compulsory, and made a stabbing gesture.
In a video shown to jurors, Deghayes said: ‘Jihad is fighting by sword. That means this Jihad is compulsory upon you, not Jihad is the word of mouth but Jihad will remain compulsory until the Day of Resurrection…’
The bearded defendant gave evidence wearing a black hooded top bearing a ‘Free Palestine’ slogan on it, similar to one he was seen wearing in the video.
Deghayes, of Saltdean in East Sussex, denies a charge of encouraging terrorism.